We English are....."lousy lovers"
You speak for yourself mate 😉
Reply to this In response to: Msg #145202
Yes, perhaps you can enlighten us with your "professional" essay about the Philippines with less abusive tone and contempt (that filipino readers probably failed to pick up, having ENGLISH as only their second language).
Weird, English is my foreign language as well, and I was able to pick up all those elusive nuances apparently exclusively reserved for native speakers. I'm sure most Filipinos did so as well. If you really think one can't master a foreign language to an extent where one can read and perfectly understand pretty much anything in that language, then you must be a monolingualist (that's just an assumption, please tell me if I'm wrong).
The one positive thing that came out of your "negative" blog is the desire of the Filipino people to improve their country.
I seriously doubt that. It's just one of many, many blogs on the internet, where people usually display a very short attention span. I can't imagine any Filipino going out and trying to make a change just because some guy from England complained about an airport and a hotel.
Reply to this Weird, English is my foreign language as well, and I was able to pick up all those elusive nuances apparently exclusively reserved for native speakers. I'm sure most Filipinos did so as well.
- Jens
Hmmm ... are you really "sure" ? It sounds like you're also making an
assumption that they picked up on those "elusive" nuances.
I seriously doubt that. It's just one of many, many blogs on the internet, where people usually display a very short attention span. I can't imagine any Filipino going out and trying to make a change just because some guy from England complained about an airport and a hotel.
- Jens
Again, do you "seriously doubt" that one person can't spark a change ?
You might want to read up on "People Power" revolution, in which filipinos became known for when they expelled a corrupt government.
[Edited: 2011 Oct 15 14:50 - wanderinghobo:220159 ]
Reply to this Again, do you "seriously doubt" that one person can't spark a change ?
I would sincerely hope that people form their opinions based on more than simply reading one random blog on the Internet! Otherwise, the analytical powers that the human brain has evolved over the last few hundred thousand years would appear to have gone to waste.
Reply to this Thanks for highlighting my typo John. I meant to ask,
Do you "seriously doubt" that one person CAN spark a change ?
(as I would have failed to
notice it.)
I would sincerely hope that people form their opinions based on more than simply reading one random blog on the Internet!
- John
I hope so too.
**
Many Filipinos are probably already aware of the degraded condition of the city of Manila. Geoff's blog simply added salt to the injury.
[Edited: 2011 Oct 15 21:44 - wanderinghobo:220159 ]
Reply to this Philippines ranks 85 out of 139 countries measured by the World Economic Forum for competitiveness. Worst issues are poor institutions, excessive bureaucracy, corruption and bad infrastructure.
Not me talking, measured using official Government of Philippine statistics submitted to the WEF. The way out is to harness the obvious pent up frustration seen in the comments on my post, which dealt with only a tiny part of this at a very personal level. If anyone wants to have a serious debate, let's do this on email.
Meanwhile I've resurrected my Twitter account. Read more grumpy tweets on a daily basis @Quartermaine - Philippines isn't the only place I visit and by no means the worst. Enjoy being irritated with me!
Reply to this I joined Travelblog today principally to record my experiences of living in the Phlilippines. So off I headed to the forum to see what was cooking, and look what I find. I haven't read all the comments here, but I have read the chief protagonist's, and I consider it a jolly "Mr Meldrew" rant. Mildly offensive - true, but equally true is the state of Manila. If it's a case of the emperor's new clothes, then G. James has exposed the reality. Manila is ugly and a giant carbunkle on the face of a much loved friend (to steal a quote from Prince Charles). NAIA is one of the most dysfunctional, stressful, chaotic, unappealing, unaccomodating excuses for an airport I have ever had the misfortune to deal with. These observations cannot be denied. Think of the first time visitor having to cope with that and Manila! What sort of impression is he going to get - but first impressions count. Geoffrey James recommends getting out of Manila asap after arrival. Sound advice, but easier said than done. It takes me four hours on a good day just to do the 60km to San Pablo City.
I certainly don't agree with his comments regarding "smarminess". Being English, like me, he probably is so used to his fellow countrymen losing their good manners and social etiquette, that when he actually sees politeness and civility from others he becomes apoplectic and assumes it is insincere. Anyway, he's apologised for that. I didn't like his comment about "only intelligent people" getting away and sending back their remittances. The OFW's are forced into it more often than not just in order to make a living wage, and given a level playing field I'm sure they would much rather stay and be with their family. Still, his point I assume, is that a government which regards its people as a GDP and relentlessly encourages them to work overseas - receiving $billions in return for there blood, sweat and tears, and appearing to do little to improve the lot of those left behind, is a valid point if that's what he meant.
People don't like to see their country critised, especially by foreigners, and as Filipinos are probably the most abundant tech-savvy social networkers on the planet, it was inevitable that the OP would receive heavy flack.
I love the Philippines and it's been special to me for over thirty years. But, frankly, if I had to live in Manila, I wouldn't live there at all. Truth hurts.
Reply to this ...I posted the link in a local travel blog community....More than half our population are 19 years old and younger. Many are Twitter and Facebook users, and I venture to say, easily affected by such "controversies".
...It'd be great though if some of the angry readers stuck around on TravelBlog and checked out a few more blogs...
For a single day; 11th October
28%!o(MISSING)f traffic of travelblog.org was from the Phillipines (32%!U(MISSING)S - usually 45%!)(MISSING)
If Geoffs thousands of anti fans come over here, hopefully they will bring some of their moderators with them, to keep order. They seem like an unruly lot. 😉
How many members does that travel community have, Lilliram? It must be huge, if just one TravelBlog link there caused tens of thousands of them to visit TravelBlog within a few days of the link being posted.
Reply to this
In response to: Msg #145481 Thanks for the thoughtful comment. Yes, it was indeed a rant after one bad trip from 100. You are right about the "smarmy" comment too, it was said in irritation. But I have to say I prefer the Thai service with a smile, but it's just a personal preference. That said, I'm in Dubai and the place is run by Pinoy's... and generally very well run, my hotel in particular. Excellent. The point about OFW's is quite right.
Reply to this I support you in your comments about Manila and the airport. Unfortunately they were overshadowed by the perceived aspersions you cast on the Filipino character. I'm pretty sure you didn't mean them, but you were in full flow and sometimes we often say things which can be misinterpreted.
Nevetheless, the knee-jerk over reaction you generated was totally uncalled for. In fact, I'm quite disgusted by the volume of abuse you have received.
I just hope the core of your message will reach the ears of influence. If they feign deafness, then they must pretend to be blind as well.
Reply to this
In response to: Msg #145561 Hi Pabro.... yeah, it was a rant. But the substance of what I say is correct - lousy NAIA Terminal 1 - do you know how long it's been like that.... and the sad decline of what was a good place to stay.
To be honest there hasn't been a huge volume of abuse. Out of 900+ comments I've only been able to give extra publicity to maybe 10 abusive or incoherent people who had the courage to sign their own names - they deserve all the exposure they can get as the fools they clearly are. LoL
I would say then there was another 10-15 comments that were anonymously abusive of the "you are a racist faggot @#*!..blah , blah" variety. I accept these but there's no point in replying at all. Good for a laugh. I liked the one that accused me of being a sex traveller. If only.
Then maybe there is another 100 or so who politely disagree with me. Cool. I believe in healthy argument. It's such a pity that many folk don't as in the "if you can't be nice, then be quiet" category.
By far the majority of Filipinos has agreed and welcomed the fact that someone has said what needed saying. By the way @Mell: I think in general my blog is pretty constructive and aims to be helpful (e.g., reporting positively on hotels etc.... I recall making a couple of critical reviews before this one - on a hotel in Dubai and on Qatar Airlines). So although I write with a slight "edge" (I hope - what's the point of writing "nice" all the time?), I'm actually not everyone's Evil Traveller. At least, not deliberately so.
In this instance I was just being grumpy about a personal experience, not trying to fix the woes of the Philippines (haha!) or being political. For all I care the place can continue its downward spiral (Oops!). Shame, because as I've said, in the old days it used to be a great place to visit. I didn't screw it up, the people that live there did.
Cheers from Dubai which is run (very well) by Filipinos.
Reply to this By the way, I'm grumpy daily on Twitter @Quartermaine should anyone give a #@*!
Reply to this Just to cut in for a minute... it seems that all the TravelBlog entries that have gone viral have done so for the wrong reasons - naughty words in the title, disparaging ideas about the country, etc. But have any of our blogs been read by a huge amount of people just because they're amazing? Maybe linked to on tourist board websites or such-like?
I can think of 1,000 blogs that deserve Geoff's level of attention more than his.
J.
Reply to this
In response to: Msg #145587 Hi Jonathan (what's the Vinovat bit?)... You are quite right. My post absolutely did NOT demand this level of attention. It's a real measure of the pent-up frustration in the Philippines that it did.
Points:
- people read things and respond to them for their own reasons, not because the should do - it's one of the lessons of the Web/net and says something about freedom of speech.
- my specific post wasn't aimed at disparaging the Philippines; it was precisely my personal expression about one crappy trip, and I might have over-generalized. But, hey, we're not all perfect..... I did NOT write to get attention. It's the first really critical post I've written except for a couple of reviews (hotel in Dubai and Qatar Airways). I write for my own fun and possibly the posts are useful to the tiny number that usually reads them.
- The regular media have understood the attraction of "bad" news forever.... Ever seen a mainstream newspaper lead with "Major Headline: this Amazingly Nice Thing Happened Today". Bad news or criticism sells newspapers, attracts people to reality shows, and clearly gets hits. Do people watch 'Top Gear" because the guys are nice? They watch because Jeremy Clarkson may come out with some really egregious remark (follow me @Quartermaine for the same reason!).
With respect you're being a bit naive if you really think people are going to react to "nice and cuddly" posts of family holiday snaps. They ain't, my regular readerships runs in at about 600/month.
Final point (to prove mine): here's a link to a REALLY SERIOUS, analytical post (also mentioned on Quartermaine's World) which I'm proud to say is a reflection of my real writing skills. It's about Somalia.
http://www.agrimarkets.info/2011/07/somalia-tip-of-iceberg.html
Since it was published in July it's received 239 hits. There you go.
Reply to this The word 'Vinovat' is from a Russian play I acted in while living in Russia;
vinovat, sudarynya! means "my fault, madam" and was my first line.
It does seem that "nice and cuddly" bloggers never receive huge amounts of page hits or attention. Maybe we should find the cuddliest and put them on the front page permanently? Have any newlywed yoga teachers had a good massage at the Vermont Puppy and Chocolate Ranch this year?
J.
Reply to this Well there you are...... Quartermaine's World got it right apparently:
"The Philippine government pledged Wednesday to improve the country's main airport after it was named the world's worst following complaints of thieving staff, dirty toilets and a collapsing ceiling.
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport's Terminal 1 was given the dubious title by an online budget travel guide, www.sleepinginairports.net, based on reviews from its readers."
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1160426/1/html
It's called: egg on your face all those that thought I was being unfair.
Reply to this Update (26/10): More than
85,000 views, more than
1,000 comments.
Oh for
one of my blogs to attract 10%!o(MISSING)f that attention!
J.
Reply to this @Jonathan: Complete waste of time, mate. None of that translates into much more than hot air. Perhaps it did get someone's attention in authority but I doubt it. You see (and here I go again!) democracy in the age of excessive information just lets the plebs blow off so they can be safely disregarded. The dumb ones (Gaddafi, Bashir Al Assad etc.) think that being a dictator gets you the power...no... be a democrat and then ignore most of what is said. A lot safer. Works like a dream in the Philippines and indeed elsewhere.
As for my blog, twitter, Farcebook etc.... none of the attention translated into any serious following or worthwhile long term interactions.
Reply to this 
